In this note we describe a procedure for the efficient conversion of a wide range of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding iodides under essentially neutral conditions by treatment with the stable thioiminium salt N,N-dimethyl-N-(methylsulfanylmethylene)ammonium iodide. The byproducts of the reaction are readily removed from the desired alkyl iodides. ... The origin of this process lies in our observation that the hydrolysis of thiolactam 1 using ...
